Ceiling plate



June 24, 1930.

M. S. GOLDSMITH CEILING PLATE Filed Nov. 19, 1927 3 LLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I /'7ax Goldsmifh, W W

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF 1(113.

MAX S. GOLDSMITH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOLDSMITI-IVMETAL LATH,

COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF. OHIO CEILING PLATE Application filed November 19, 1927. Serial No. 234,516.

This invention relates to floor andceiling construction and has for an object the provision of nonfrangible ceiling plates which serve to protect pre-formed ceiling elements such as terra-cotta, gypsum, tile, cork, fibre and thelike against breakage when used in connection with a plastic floor construction and which furthermore may serve as a mounting means for forms required to make such plastic floor of the hollow or air space t pe. V

Another object is. to provide a ceiling plate for the purposes stated which is adapted for. invisibly locking ceiling slabs and the like thereto.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

. Fig. lis a cross sectional view of a floor and ceiling structure having embodied therein the ceilingoplatesof the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective view of a plate of the invention, having a ceiling slab locked thereto and also having a metal form in position to be seated thereon.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspective view of a modified form of the device of the invention.

Heretofore much difficulty was experienced in constructing concrete floors withpre-formed ceiling elements because Ofthe damage incurred .by careless handling and breakage of said elements particularly at the top and abutting longitudinal edges. The preferred ceiling plate of the invention, indicated generally by reference character 5 comprises a single sheet of metal which is formed to provide a body portion 6, having substantially U-shaped longitudinal ways or grooves 7 spaced at a distance from the longitudinal edges of the body 6. An integral side wall 9-is inwardly inclined downwardly from each edge 8'of the body and has a longitudinal flange 10 extendingtherefrom in ofl'set parallelism with the body 6. This provides an undercut portion adjacent each edge of the plate. From the foregoing and v by reference to Fig. 1 it willbe noted that the upper, face of the ceiling plate isadapted torrecei've the bottom edges 11. of. a-..meta-l form 12 in the ways or grooves 7 for posi-' tion'ing' said forms. the plates are positioned, witlrthe 'longitudinal edges 13 of flanges 10 in abutment,-the inclinedside walls and the flanges 10 of adjacent plates provide a.;,dove-'tailed way 14 for receiving a portion of a poured concrete or plastic mass 15. Thatportion; of the concrete or plastic massal5 which enters the way'l i serves toprovide an, integral concrete key 16 for lockingtheiplates 5to the mass 15; I

The bottom face of theceiling plate 5-pre-z sents a pairof spaced ribs 17 formed by-the side walls and bottom of the Ways 7. Adjae cent the edge of the ribs17 isa-dove-tailed way 18 formed between one sidewall of thje groove 7 and the adjacent inclined sidewall 9 of the-plate.

The top 6, inclined side 9 and-flange 10 form 'a substantially Z-shaped portion which forms the under-cutway 14 in the top face of the unit and the complementary undercut Way 18 in the bottom face of said unit. The compositionlmaterial of; the slabs-19, may be placed in a plastic state. or formed by pressure on the bottom face of the ceiling plates 5when they serve asmoldsjforthe slabs19.

In erecting a floor and ceiling the customary shoring 20 and stringers ,21 are employed as a temporary supporting structure andthe plates 5 carrying, the ceiling slabs 19 are then positioned with the flat bottom faces 22 of slabs 19 resting upon the string ers 21. The side edges 23 of slabs 19 and the edges 13 of the ceiling plates 5 are placed. in abutment with corresponding edges of adjacent units whereupon a-strong flat structure is provided whereon the workmen may stand-while mounting the metal forms 12 in the grooves 7. The ceiling plates, being factory made are uniform and subject to ready and. accurate alignment so that the ordinaryunskilled Workman may position themetal forms 12 inperfectalignment in a minimumxoftime. Thfe'concrete or plastic floor massis thenpoured: over the tiles and fills the spacesybetweentheg side walls; of adj acent'; tilesafori providing. cons When a plurality of crete beams 24: and the integral concrete keys 16. Upon hardening of the concrete or plastic mass 15the temporary supporting structure is removed. The side walls of the metal forms 12 are securely retained against lateral displacement by the side walls of the top grooves 7 so that uniform straight line beams 24 are produced. The plates 5 are securely locked to the bottom of the beams 24: by the integral concrete keys 16 and the ceiling slabs are suspended from the bottom faces of the plates by reason of their keyed engagement with said plates.

In the modified form of the device of the invention shown in Fig. 3, depending flanges 25 are provided along the longitudinal sides of the plate and an end wall 26 is used to close the opposite ends of said plate. This modified form is especially adapted for protecting the end of the breakable element of the ceiling plate should that be necessary or desirable. This modified form is employed in floor construction in the manner previcusly explained.

It will be noted that the metal or nonfrangible covering on the ceiling plates ofthis invention becomes an integral part of the ceiling plate and the inetal or nonfrangible covering serves as a mold to hold and firmly lock the pre-formed or frangible ceiling slabs 19 in position and at the same time protect the same against breakage during handling and mounting, and also materially reduces the labor and expense incident to constructing a concrete or plaster floor. The bottom or exposed faces 22 of the ceiling slabs 19 may be suitably prepared for receiving the desired finishing or decoration immediately after the temporary supporting structure is removed from beneath a floor.

\Vhile the plates are preferably made of sheet metal, any non-frangible sheet material such as sheet fiber may be used for the purpose of protecting the terra cotta, tile or similar slabs against breakage.

What is claimed is 1. As a new article of manufacture a nonfrangible ceiling plate formed with grooves on opposite faces thereof, the grooves on one face being adapted to be filled with a plastic or pliable mass whereby to suspend the plate and a slab of cementitious and fireproof material carried by the grooves in the other face of the plate and reinforced against breakage thereby.

2.- As a new article of manufacture a nonfrangible faced pre-formed ceiling slab, said non-frangible facing having undercut grooves therein whereby it may be suspended from a plastic floor mass. I

3. As a new article of manufacturea preformed ceiling slab having integral keys on the top face thereof, and a sheet metal or non-frangible plate conforming to the top face'of said slab for locking the plate and slab together, the corresponding keys on the metal plate serving to lock the plate to the bottom face of a plastic floor mass.

4. In a floor and ceiling structure the combination of pre-formed ceiling slabs, temporary supporting means for said slabs, metal or non-frangible plates having interlocked engagement with the top faces of said slabs, said plates having undercut top portions and a poured floor mass disposed on top of the plates and extending beneath the undercut portions of the plates, said mass being adapted to harden for locking the plates to thefloor.

5. In a ceiling plate the combination of a sheet metal or non-frangible body portion one face of which has a pair of spaced ways therein, undercut portions disposed on 0pposite sides of said ways and a pre-formed body of material of a cementitious fire-proof nature secured on the opposite face of the plate.

6. In a ceiling slab for mounting on the bottom face of a concrete floor, the coinbination of a non-frangible plate having a longitudinal Z-shaped bend therein for providing an undercut way in the upper face of said sheet and a complementary undercut way in the bottom face, and a cementitious body permanently secured to said bottom face, said plate and body forming a prepared construction unit.

7. As a new article of manufacture a preformed cementitious ceiling slab having integral keys on the top face thereof, and a non-frangible plate conforming to the top face of said slab for locking the slab and plate together, the corresponding keys on the plate being adapted to be embedded in a plastic mass whereby the slab and plate are locked to the plastic mass. 7

8. In a floor and ceiling structure the combination of pre-cast or pre-formed ceiling slabs, temporary supporting means for said slabs, non-frangible plates having interlocked engagement with the top faces of the slabs, said plates having undercut portions, and a-poured floor mass disposed over the plates and extending into the undercut portions thereof whereby said mass upon gardening serves to lock the plates to the cor.

9. As a new article of manufacture a ceiling slab comprising a'mold forming sheet of non-frangible material provided with interiorly and exteriorly disposed undercut grooves, a fireproof plastic substance filling the mold and retained therein by entry into the interiorly disposed undercut ways, the exteriorly disposed undercut ways serving to receive a poured floor mass for suspending the mold slabs from 'saidmass.

10. As a new article of manufacture a fire-proof cementitious ceiling slab having a permanently attached =top protective covber, 1927.

MAX S. GOLDSMITH. 

